Trudeau promises gender parity, regional representation in new cabinet

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will unveil his new cabinet Tuesday.

He promises to have gender parity and proper regional distribution.

Trudeau has only publicly confirmed that Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will remain Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister.

That means he had to find replacements for three female ministers who lost their seats in last month’s election: Gender Equality Minister Maryam Monsef, Senior Minister Deb Schulte; and Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan. Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna did not seek re-election.

The Prime Minister has also been under pressure to move Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan to a new portfolio amid criticism for his handling of sexual misconduct allegations among the military’s senior ranks.

The Liberals said a $7.4-billion reshaping of federal pandemic aid is high on the agenda for MPs when the House of Commons returns. The Liberals unveiled this late last week.

The swearing-in ceremony is at Rideau Hall at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday and is presided over by Gov Gen. Mary May Simon.